Can iterated learning explain the emergence of graphical symbols?

Abstract

This paper contrasts two influential theoretical accounts of language change and evolution – Iterated Learning and Social Coordination. The contrast is based on an experiment that compares drawings produced with Garrod et al.’s (2007) ‘pictionary’ task with those produced in an Iterated Learning version of the same task. The main finding is that Iterated Learning does not lead to the systematic simplification and increased symbolicity of graphical signs produced in the standard interactive version of the task. A second finding is that Iterated Learning leads to less conceptual and structural alignment between participants than observed for those in the interactive condition. The paper concludes with a comparison of the two accounts in relation to how each promotes signs that are efficient, systematic and learnable.

Environmental constraints shaping constituent order in emerging communication systems: Structural iconicity, interactive alignment and conventionalization

“…Full conventionalization of a single order might require a larger time scale with more trials, and perhaps additional concomitant factors. For instance, the frequent change of task-partners within a 'speech community' can radically enhance the conventionalization effect as indicated in previous semiotic experiments (Garrod & Doherty, 1994;Garrod, Fay, Rogers, Walker, & Swoboda, 2010) and agent-based simulations (Baronchelli & Diaz-Guilera, 2012;Baronchelli, Gong, Puglisi, & Loreto, 2010;Loreto & Steels, 2007;Puglisi, Baronchelli, & Loreto, 2008;Steels, 2011).…”

Biology, culture, evolution and the cognitive nature of sound systems

“…This indicates that high amounts of iconic structure (postulated for earlier stages of language) may have blocked the use of combinatorial structure in the early evolution of language. Other work in the social coordination paradigm has investigated how conventionalization through repeated use can simplify signals (Garrod, Fay, Rogers, Walker, & Swoboda, 2010).…”

Social Structure and Language Structure: the New Nomothetic Approach

“…Mesoudi and Whiten, 2008;ScottPhillips and Kirby, 2010). Garrod (2010), for instance, found that by contrasting two transmission dynamics -vertical cultural transmission and repeated pairwise interaction -chains of learners would produce different outputs. Specifically, the graphical communication systems that emerged were better suited to their specific forms of transmission: forms transmitted vertically tended to retain their iconic appearance, whereas the interactively produced forms decreased in complexity through taking on a more symbolic aspect.…”